Private school proprietors defend up to 30% fee hike ahead of Monday resumption

Private school proprietors across Nigeria have strongly defended a 30 percent upward adjustment in tuition fees ahead of the new academic session, attributing the sharp increase to unrelenting inflationary pressures and skyrocketing operational costs, according to reporting by The Punch.

School administrators explained that the fee hikes were vital for survival, pointing to severe cost surges in fueling power generators, elevated electricity tariffs, rising staff salaries, and higher prices for basic instructional materials. Representatives from major private education associations emphasized that failing to adjust pricing would severely degrade academic quality, disrupt administrative operations, and trigger staff turnover as living costs continue to climb nationwide.

The financial adjustment has sparked widespread outrage among parents, many of whom voiced frustration over short-notice announcements while navigating broader macroeconomic challenges. Parents’ associations have urged school management boards to grant flexible payment schedules or downsize non-essential activities, warning that many families may be forced to transfer their children to public institutions or delay resumption altogether.

Despite mounting appeals for moderation, school proprietors maintain that the revised fee structure remains the absolute minimum required to maintain standards and keep school doors open as classrooms prepare to resume nationwide.